Chapter 28:
"So fast!"
Xiao Wu's surprised voice echoed as she peeked out from behind a tree. She had been preparing to watch a battle, but instead, she saw Lin Bai effortlessly kill the King Kong Baboon. Disappointed, she stepped forward with a pout.
"Xiao Wu, keep watch for me."
Lin Bai retracted the Ruyi Qiankun Spear. That last attack had been powerful but costly—thirteen Ruyi Qiankun Spears had consumed nearly half of his soul power. If not for the urgency of the hunt, he wouldn't have used such an extravagant move.
"Alright, go ahead and fuse the soul ring."
Xiao Wu agreed easily but then looked at Lin Bai with expectant eyes, rubbing her stomach.
Lin Bai sighed, speechless, before pulling out the last of his carrots and handing them to her. "Just make sure you eat while keeping an eye out. Don't let me get snatched up by a spirit beast."
"Relax. No soul beast would dare approach the King Kong Baboon's territory. Even if they did, they'd be easy to deal with."
Xiao Wu confidently patted her chest, already wiping the carrot clean before biting into it. Her lips were stained with the vegetable's orange hue as she ate happily.
Lin Bai nodded, sitting down to recover his soul power before pulling the purple soul ring toward the Ruyi Qiankun Spear. The moment the ring made contact, a violent and domineering force surged into his body, tearing through his meridians like a rampaging beast.
Lin Bai frowned, enduring the stinging sensation spreading throughout his body. He quickly activated the metallic soul power of the Ruyi Qiankun Spear, using its unique properties to suppress the wild energy of the King Kong Baboon's soul ring. Metal, besides being sharp and unyielding, also had an aspect of stability that eroded and assimilated the invading force.
In less than an hour, the purple soul ring fully merged into his body.
"A super martial spirit really is powerful… even soul ring fusion feels easier."
Lin Bai muttered as he examined his new soul skill. As expected, it was the King Kong Baboon's berserk ability—at the cost of losing his rationality, it provided a 50% increase in strength, defense, speed, and soul power.
Every physical attribute, except for mental faculties, was enhanced.
"I wonder… could I maintain my sanity by visualizing the dragon?"
Lin Bai's near-Soul King-level mental power had always been his hidden trump card. He hesitated before deciding against testing the skill in the Star Dou Forest. There were too many dangers lurking here; it was safer to experiment elsewhere.
"Xiao Wu, do you want to visit home?"
Lin Bai had noticed her hesitance—she clearly wanted to go back but didn't voice the request out of consideration for him.
"Hmm… I haven't been back since I left. I really miss Da Ming and Er Ming…"
Xiao Wu looked at Lin Bai, warmth in her eyes. But then she hesitated. "What should I do? Why don't you come with me?"
Lin Bai shook his head. "No need. I'm still human, after all. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go with you."
He wasn't foolish. Given how protective the Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python were of Xiao Wu, they'd likely react poorly to his presence. Even if they didn't kill him outright for her sake, he'd still suffer for it. He wasn't about to walk into that mess.
"Alright, then I'll go alone."
Xiao Wu looked a little disappointed. She had wanted to introduce Lin Bai to her "brothers," but now that was impossible.
Just as they were about to part ways, Lin Bai's ears twitched. He sensed a distant vibration—something massive was moving toward them at high speed, shaking the ground and sending rocks flying.
Lin Bai immediately hovered in midair with telekinesis, his gaze sharp. "A powerful spirit beast is approaching. Is it one of your companions? If not, we need to run."
Xiao Wu glanced at Lin Bai floating in the air, surprised—this was the first time she had seen him fly.
"Don't worry, it's probably Er Ming. He may be huge, but he's gentle and won't hurt us."
Her face lit up with joy. Meanwhile, Lin Bai's expression twitched.
Gentle to her, maybe—not to him.
He was a second-ring Soul Grandmaster, while the Titan Giant Ape could turn him into paste with a single slap. There was no way he was sticking around to find out if Xiao Wu could stop it in time.
"I'll be heading out first. Take your time catching up, and I'll meet you outside the Star Dou Forest."
Without giving her a chance to argue, Lin Bai waved and immediately flew off into the sky.
"Huh?"
Xiao Wu could only watch as he vanished.
At that moment, the towering trees behind her rustled violently as a colossal figure emerged—a 20-meter-tall Titan Giant Ape. Its lantern-sized eyes widened at the sight of Xiao Wu, and it let out a deep roar, its voice filled with joy.
"Sister Xiao Wu! Er Ming missed you so much!"
The massive beast sprinted forward, carefully lowering its head so she could touch it.
But Xiao Wu wasn't focused on Er Ming—she was still looking into the distance where Lin Bai had disappeared.
The Titan Giant Ape followed her gaze and saw the human fleeing. Its nostrils flared, hot air huffing out as it growled.
"Sister Xiao Wu, you shouldn't trust humans. Look at him—he abandoned you and ran away."
"That's not true!"
Xiao Wu shook her head firmly. "Lin Bai knows my true identity, but he left because you're too intimidating. Otherwise, I would've introduced you both. Er Ming, he's my friend. I won't let you speak badly of him!"
The Titan Giant Ape scratched its head. It always listened when Xiao Wu got serious, but it still distrusted humans.
"Hmph! Then we'll bring him back! Humans are cunning and deceitful. He must have tricked you! I'll catch him and see if he's a coward!"
The Titan Giant Ape's voice rumbled like thunder as it straightened up and bolted forward, chasing after Lin Bai.
"Er Ming, stop!"
Xiao Wu shouted, but the Titan Giant Ape's stubborn nature prevailed. It was jealous—and once that happened, even she couldn't stop it.
Despite its massive size, the Titan Giant Ape was a six-attribute powerhouse with no weaknesses. It tore through the dense forest at hundreds of meters per second, rapidly closing in on Lin Bai.
Then, with a powerful leap, it launched itself into the air. Using its soul power to extend its hang-time, it reached out with a fist the size of a boulder, attempting to grab Lin Bai.
"You cowardly human! Come back and explain how you tricked Sister Xiao Wu!"
Lin Bai felt the crushing force behind him. His eyes gleamed dangerously as he let out a deafening roar.
"Get lost!"
A faint dragon's cry resonated through the air. Platinum dragon scales shimmered across Lin Bai's body, reflecting rainbow hues in the sunlight. Behind him, a pair of crystalline dragon wings unfurled, exuding an overwhelming aura of true draconic might.
A vast, ancient pressure filled the air.
For a brief moment, Er Ming's soul trembled.
In its mind, it saw the vague outline of a majestic dragon—one that looked down upon it with predatory greed, as if it were mere prey.
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